Free coloring pages are a great alternative to screen time for young kids. Instead of passive entertainment, coloring in pictures and creating their own drawings can stimulate creativity, while also training fine motors skills.
The unique nature of the Alphabetimals invites children to color in their favorite animals and at the same time begin to recognize letter shapes and contours. The free uppercase letter printables below are a great introduction to the English alphabet, and fun way to play and learn at the same time.
Printable Coloring Pages
Click on the images below to view the high resolution, printable version of each. Or scroll to the bottom of the page and click the button to download all the pages as a printable PDF file.
8 Benefits of Coloring Pages for Kids
- Creativity over consumption – In a world dominated by screens, unplugging our kids, let alone ourselves, can be a daily challenge. Coloring pages provide a way for kids to entertain themselves while activating their creative sides.
- Coloring is inclusive – Everyone can color, and there are no “right” colors when you are being asked to use your imagination.
- A place for expression – Coloring and art opens up an alternate way for kids to express themselves beyond verbal communications.
- Understanding colors – There are plenty of YouTube videos out there attempting to teach children basic colors, but to truly grasp the range of colors and how they relate to one another, nothing beats good old experimentation.
- Problem solving with contraints – Effective problem solving later in life involves identifying the constraints in a given situation. Coloring is different than drawing on a blank piece of paper because it gives children a starting point, within which they are asked to use their creativity. The idea of being creative, but with practical limitations, is a very useful problem solving lesson that can be applied more generally throughout a lifetime.
- Stress reduction – In the fast-paced world we live in, distractions abound. Sitting and coloring allows kids to enter another state of mind, where they can turn off the noise around them and focus on the task at hand.
- Ability to stay focused on a task – With all the entertainment possibilities available to children 24/7, overstimulation is at an all time high, and attention spans are fast disappearing. When things get a little boring kids can quickly just tap the next YouTube video or launch the next smartphone app. Coloring can motivate them to focus on a single task and invite them to hold that attention until the entire picture has been completed. This is an invaluable skill that will stay with them through life.
- Trains fine motor skills -We’ve all seen that toddler unlocking a device and swiping through the app icon screens. With smartphone and tablets everywhere, kids are mastering fine motor skills from a very young age. Holding a pen, crayon or pencil helps add variety to the motor functions they perform throughout the day.
Free Drawing Tutorials for Beginners
I loved drawing the Alphabetimals, and now I'd like to share some of the drawing tips and tricks I used to make them come to life. Visit my easy drawing tutorial website Otoons.net for free step-by-step guides on how to draw all kinds of fun and simple things. - Patrick O.
Try our Printable Alphabet Worksheets! Download a FREE SAMPLE or preview all 200+ on Etsy.com or TeachersPayTeachers.com